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Holiday tips for your domestic staff?

As the holidays approach it can be difficult to know what to do regarding your household staff. Should you give them presents, give them an extra tip or simply leave them to their own holiday celebrations? You could leave this in the hands of your estate manager, or you can choose to handle it yourself. If you choose the latter, here are a few tips to help you throughout the holiday season:

Be mindful of their personal beliefs – Not everyone is Christian, and you can't ask your domestic staff if they celebrate Christmas when you hire them, so try to be mindful of the fact that they may not share presents in their own homes. Rather than giving presents to your staff, consider a holiday bonus or paid vacation for a few days around the holidays.

Be flexible with vacation – The holidays are a time for family, so make sure to be flexible around schedules and time-off requests. If your cleaning service isn't working the week of Christmas don't expect one of your other staff members to pick up the slack. Consider hiring another agency temporarily or offering the work for over-time pay. Nannies and full time housekeepers do not work Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Years Day.

Consider a bonus – Everyone can use a little extra money around the holidays, so consider making a small holiday bonus your gift this year. Prioritize your household staff lift and provide small bonuses based on their positions, higher percentages for your estate manager, personal chef and children's nanny, and slightly less for maids and other staff. A good standard to use is one to two weeks salary as a bonus.

Gift cards – In some circles gift cards are considered tacky, but in others they can be an ideal present for the holidays. If a monetary gift is unacceptable but you don't feel comfortable giving someone an actual gift, consider a $20 gift card to a coffee shop or online marketplace.

Know who to tip – Direct monetary tips are generally accepted in certain positions. According to MoneyTalksNews, baby sitters, caregivers, garbage collectors, handymen, housecleaners, hairdressers, manicurists, massage practitioners, newspaper deliverers, personal trainers and pet groomers and walkers should all be considered for tips this holiday season. A good standard is to tip the cost of one session for those you employ regularly on a per-session basis.

If you're considering hiring more domestic staff in Los Angeles, contact Colonial Domestic Agency. Our expert job placement team can help you find the perfect staff members to fit your needs and fill your household with bright, enthusiastic employees.